The ‘disgraceful’ comment by Maldivian minister Maryam Shiuna about India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi notwithstanding, the two nations share ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and commercial relations that go back a long way. The uproar against the comment on the social media and call for boycott of Maldives and instant reaction of hurt feelings. But we should the strategic importance of Maldives to India, as former diplomat Nirupama Menon Rao opined.
“In the age of social media, foreign relations and the practice of diplomacy are easily eroded by ill-advised remarks made irresponsibly by persons in the public domain. Which is what happened in the Maldives. The resultant backlash in India was to be expected. I only hope that India-Maldives relations which are too vital and strategic recover lost equilibrium as soon as possible. These are not ties to be trifled with. They matter too much. To both countries. We are equal partners. And must stay that way. This is not about sand and beaches,” she said on X.
In this context it is important to understand the deep connection between India and Maldives from a historical perspective.
History of Maldives
Maldives islands were first inhabited in around 1500 BC. It witnessed migrations at regular intervals from South India and Sri Lanka. The islands attracted seafarers, merchants and settlers. People exiled from India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Africa and even from far off Greece and the Roman Empire arrived at islands.
Around 947 AD Arab travellers began visiting the islands. Arab and Persian traders were wooed by spices, coconuts, dried fish and cowry shells. According to Maldives embassy cowry shells were an accepted currency from Africa to China until the 16th century).
Maldivian society and culture were tremendously influenced by the trading community and subsequently the Maldives was officially converted to Islam in 1153 AD.
Post conversion, Maldives rulers were called Sultans. King Koimala was renamed Sultan Mohammed-bin-Abdullah and his Maley dynasty ruled the Maldives for 235 years under 26 different Sultans.
Maley rule was followed by the Hilali dynasty. Foreign powers first establish diplomatic and commercial relations with Maldives for the first time during Hilali dynasty.
“Pearls of the Indian Ocean” was invaded by Portugal in the mid-16th Century. Portuguese ruled for 15 years before they defeated by greatest national heroe, Mohammed Thakurufaan. The dynasty established by Mohammed Thakurufaan – the Utheemu dynasty –remained in power for the next 127 years until the early 18th century.
Raja of Cannanore in South India dispatched a Malabar raiding party to attack Male. The Utheemu dynasty collapsed due to this. Huraage dynasty under the leadership of Ghazi Hassan Izzaddeen ,which prevailed until 1968, succeeded.
Maldives established diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka. In 1887, the Maldives became a British Protectorate and remained so until 26 July 1965. On 11th November 1968, the Sultanate was replaced by an independent Republic of Maldives.
India-Maldives Bilateral ties
India and Maldives share ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and commercial links. The relations have been close, cordial and multi-dimensional. India was among the first to recognize Maldives after its independence in 1965 and to establish diplomatic relations with the country.
India’s relationship with the Maldives is free of any politically contentious issues. The one-time claim of Maldives to Minicoy Island was resolved by the Maritime Boundary Treaty of 1976 between the two countries, whereby Maldives has recognized Minicoy as an integral part of India.
India’s assistance during the 1988 coup attempt further strengthened trust and
long-term and friendly bilateral relations Maldives. The immediate withdrawal of our troops when they were no longer required assuaged fears of any Indian dominance or territorial aspirations, says Indian High Commission.
India was the first to assist Maldives during the 2004 Tsunami as well as the water crisis in Malé in Dec 2014. “These three incidents (in 1988, 2004 & 2014) had established the advantages of India’s proximity and capacity to come to Maldives’ rescue in distress vis-à-vis any other country and are widely acknowledged by the Government and people of Maldives. India’s swift dispatch of 30,000 doses of measles vaccine in Jan 2020 to prevent an outbreak in the Maldives, and India’s rapid and comprehensive assistance to the Maldives during COVID-19 pandemic further reinforced India’s credentials of being the first responder,” says the High Commission.
Timeline of major bilateral visits
• 2018: Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the inauguration ceremony of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in 2018 as the only Head of State /Head of Government.
• 2019: PM Modi on his first overseas visit after taking oath of the office for his second term, visited Maldives on a State Visit in June 2019. PM also addressed a session of the newly constituted People’s Majlis.
2019: An inter-ministerial delegation led by Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail visited New Delhi in July 2019.
• 2019: Chief of Defence Force (CDF) of MNDF Major General Abdulla Shamaal visited India in July 2019. During his visit he met Raksha Mantri, NSA, CAS, COAS and CNS and delivered speeches at IDSA (now MPIDSA) and NDC.
EAM S Jaishankar and Foreign Minister Shahid co-chaired the JCM which undertook a comprehensive review of the bilateral agenda and charted a way forward. . The two Ministers also witnessed the exchange of Instrument of Ratification of Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters and signing of the MoUs between the Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) of Maldives and India.
• 2021: CDF visited Bengaluru for AERO India
• 2021 : Foreign Minister Shahid also visited India
EAM visited the Maldives. During the visit, the UTF Agreement to develop a harbour for the MNDF, and a USD 50 million LoC for the MNDF were also signed. EAM gifted 100,000 doses of COVISHIELD vaccines to the Maldives. EAM also announced a USD 40 million LoC for sports infrastructure for the Maldives. AFCONS signed the contract for the EXIM Bank of India supported Addu Roads LoC project during the visit.
• 2022: CDF undertook official visit to India where he met Chiefs of Army, Airforce & Navy besides graced and reviewed, as Chief Guest, POP at OTA Chennai.
EAM visited Addu City in Maldives in March 2022. Several agreements were signed in areas of extending National Knowledge Network of India (NKN) to Maldives, capacity building & cooperation between Police Academies, reciprocal recognition of Covid vaccination certificate, and signing of Contract for Addu Reclamation Project, etc
President Solih paid an Official Visit to India from 1-4 Aug 2022. Holds official talks with Prime Minister Modi. Meets with President Droupadi Murmu.
Solih and Modi jointly launched ‘first-pouring of concrete for the Greater Male’ Connectivity Project’; reviewed progress on construction of 4000 Social Housing Units in Hulhumale’ under Buyers’ Credit and other ongoing bilateral projects.
• 2023 EAM S. Jaishakar visited Northern Atolls of Maldives in January 2023. EAM witnessed exchange of several agreements
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Maldives on an official visit. During
his visit, besides various calls on and meetings, DM attended the ceremony for the commissioning of the replacement ship for Huravee, in the presence of the H.E. President Solih. He also gifted MNDF an additional Landing Craft.
MoS for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan visited Maldives on an official visit
Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid visited India on an official visit in July 2023. FM
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi congratulated the new democratically elected President of Maldives Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. PM Modi conveyed that “India remains committed to strengthening the time-tested India-Maldives bilateral relationship and enhancing our overall cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region”.
Minister of the Earth Sciences of India Kiren Rijiju represented India at President Mohamed Muizzu’s swearing in ceremony of ceremony and also called on President Solih.
